This training again gathered a lot of people. Residents of Sochi (some of them casually squatted and snapped seeds), as well as children in search of souvenirs created a living corridor and greeted each player with applause. Looking ahead, let's say that there was a small autograph show. Vladimir Bystrov was even given a baby in his arms to take a memorable picture (both the baby and Spartak were a little stunned by this). Igor Akinfeev seemed to ignore all requests, but when a man in the army "rose" broke through to him, he stopped and signed where he should.
Two players did not come to training - Andrei Arshavin and Yegor Titov. The Zenit’s back muscle is pinched, and Titov’s fever.
“I'm counting on these players,” said Guus Hiddink. - They can probably help us in the match against Macedonia. But the situation with Sergei Ignashevich is more complicated.
The defender of the national team went on the field with everyone, but did just a couple of laps in the stadium and sat on a medical suitcase. He propped his head on his hand and sadly watched his partners. Finally, the team administrators found a car and drove Sergei to the hotel. There were rumors that the army would be sent to Moscow. But so far they have not been confirmed.
The training was quite lively. And Yevgeny Aldonin later described her as "saturated." At first, Guus Hiddink suggested playing in the “square” in half the field. The ball inside this square was taken away by Rebko, Denisov and for some reason Pavlyuchenko.
Then the whole team grabbed the football goal and carried it to the end of the field (the administrative headquarters of the team brought it to the goal field). It was Hiddink who shamed the players for the elderly people carrying their inventory (he, however, collects his shirt-guards and wears balls for training). The players took up the goal frame, and only Igor Semshov did not have enough space. At first he walked behind the general group, but then he found a way to grab the net of the goal and thereby showed that he was not detached from the team. Here they are - the delights of team sports. Sometimes you can do nothing, and it will not be evident.
The composition of the bilateral can make a forecast regarding the starting lineup of the Russian team to meet with the Macedonians. On the edges in defense, the Berezutsky brothers settled down. At the center of defense is attention! - Denis Kolodin. In the absence of Ignashevich, this is probably the only option - although it is known that Dynamo prefers to play in midfield.
In the center of the field are Aldonin, Semshov, Zhirkov, Bilyaletdinov and Bystrov. In the attack - Pogrebnyak and Sychev, at the gate - Akinfeev. During the game, Aldonin changed his tricks with Rebko, but Hiddink was not impressed with the replacement, and he returned everything to its place. In addition, sometimes Pogrebnyak changed Pavlyuchenko.
Everyone else played against the “starting lineup”, including goalkeeper Borodin (and then Malafeev), as well as coaches Igor Korneev and Alexander Borodyuk. The starting lineup won with a score of 5: 0. Two goals on the account of Sychev, Pogrebnyak, Pavlyuchenko and Aldonin scored once.
After the training, Guus Hiddink admitted that he has problems with determining the composition due to injuries, but he does not complain. So, they say, football is arranged - injuries are inevitable. He confirmed that the hotel change was caused by bad beds, and also said that it was harmful for the team to live in the highlands (just over 100 meters above sea level). Nevertheless, the Dutchman hopes for the return of all sick.
If only now before the match everyone was healthy.
Alexey Shevchenko